Hours after President Trump announced early on Saturday morning that the United States and Israel were attacking Iran, Sen. Joni Ernst appeared on Newsmax to praise Trump for launching the attack. “God bless the president for executing this mission,” Ernst said. “Because this is not just changing for today, this is world-changing for years to […]
Sen. Joni Ernst
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Misinformation about fentanyl, gangs and U.S. history flies as Trump, Iowa Republicans justify Venezuela attack
Just hours after the news broke that U.S. forces had invaded Venezuela early Saturday morning to capture the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, both of Iowa’s senators and all four of its U.S. House members issued statements praising President Trump for ordering the attack. Trump was at his Florida home/members-only country club on Friday night when he […]
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After record-setting rallies across the country, Trump and Joni Ernst dismiss No Kings Day protesters as paid and ‘whacked out’
On Saturday, millions of Americans around the country, including more than 12,000 people across Iowa, took part in the No Kings Day of Peaceful Protest. Thousands filled the Pentacrest in Iowa City, and a crowd of similar size gathered at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. In Cedar Rapids, thousands lined 8th Avenue SE […]
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Republicans mourn Charlie Kirk, compare his murder to abortion at Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition fundraiser
The death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk — and the national response — was a major talking point Saturday at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition fall banquet for GOP speakers, who said his shooting was a call to action for Republicans. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio and […]
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Ernst announces she will not run for Senate as Hinson hops into the race
Sen. Joni Ernst made it official on Tuesday: “After a tremendous amount of prayer and reflection, I will not be seeking reelection in 2026.” In a video message posted on social media, Ernst said representing Iowa in the U.S. Senate over the last 11 years was “the privilege of a lifetime.” While Ernst’s fellow Republicans […]
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Report: Sen. Joni Ernst won’t run for reelection
Sen. Joni Ernst has decided not to run for reelection, CBS News reported on Friday, citing “multiple sources familiar with the matter.” Ernst has told “confidants” she will publicly announce her decision next week, according to the report. “Spokespeople for Ernst did not reply to requests for comment,” CBS White House correspondent Jennifer Jacobs wrote. (Jacobs […]
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New poll finds Sen. Joni Ernst struggling against Democratic challengers
A new poll by Public Policy Polling (PPP) finds Sen. Joni Ernst struggling against the four Democrats running for Senate in head-to-head matchups. The North Carolina-based polling firm surveyed 572 Iowa voters from Aug. 18 to Aug. 19. Sixty-nine percent of respondents were surveyed via texted questions, while the remaining 31 percent responded to questions […]
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J.D. Scholten drops out of the Senate race, endorses Josh Turek
Eleven weeks after entering the 2026 race for U.S. Senate, J.D. Scholten has ended his bid for the Democratic nomination. Scholten, who represents Sioux City in the Iowa House, endorsed fellow western Iowa lawmaker Josh Turek in his announcement on Monday. “I’m ending my campaign because I believe it’s the right thing to do,” Scholten […]
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Rep. Josh Turek, Democrat from Council Bluffs, launches campaign for Ernst’s Senate seat
On Tuesday, State Rep. Josh Turek entered the race for the 2026 Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. In his announcement video, the Council Bluffs native and Paralympic gold medalist centers his status as an “underdog” — in sports, politics and life.
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Democrat Jackie Norris, Des Moines School Board chair and Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff, is running for U.S. Senate
Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines School Board, is running for U.S. Senate. Norris hasn’t run for federal or statewide office before, but she’s been active in Iowa politics for almost 30 years. “Red versus blue isn’t fixing anything. Iowa needs a Senator who doesn’t just talk tough but rolls up their sleeves, and […]
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‘I just keep thinking about it. Why us?’ Pascual Pedro Pedro thanks supporters in Iowa as protests of his deportation continue
The parking ramp across the street from the federal building in Cedar Rapids provided shade and some relief from the heat, so that’s where people started gathering before noon on Tuesday for the biggest demonstration yet in support of Pascual Pedro Pedro, a 20-year-old West Liberty resident who was suddenly and unexpectedly deported to Guatemala […]
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Sen. Joni Ernst speaks in support of cuts to USAID, public broadcasting
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst praised the cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) included in the bill passed in the early hours of Thursday to cancel $9 billion in federal funding for foreign aid efforts and public broadcasting. Ernst spoke in support of the cuts made through the rescissions bill, requested by President […]
